Lucknow: The birth anniversary of Swami Abhedananda was celebrated with devotion and grandeur at Ramakrishna Math, Nirala Nagar, on Monday. The day began at 4:30 a.m. with the sounding of the conch and Mangalarati, followed by Vedic chanting, the recitation of Narayana Suktam, and a soulful group rendition of “Jai Jai Ramakrishna Bhuvan Mangal,” led by the Math’s President, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj. Later, an online Satsang was conducted under his guidance.
In the evening, after the Sandhyarati at the main temple, devotees recited “Saparshad-Shri Ramakrishna Stotram” composed by Swami Saradananda, and prayers from Ramakrishna Stavarajah composed by Swami Abhedananda. This session was led by Swami Ishtakrupanananda of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow.
Delivering a detailed discourse on the life and message of Swami Abhedananda, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj described him as an “ideal yogi” who had been spiritually evolved since birth. Born on October 2, 1866, in Ahiritola, Calcutta, Abhedananda was a brilliant student with deep mastery in Sanskrit. He earned immortality through his devotional compositions dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother Sarada Devi.
At the call of Swami Vivekananda, he traveled to London in 1896 to spread Vedanta and later became head of the Vedanta Centre in New York in 1897. For 25 years, he successfully propagated Vedanta across America before returning to India in 1921. On his way back, he toured Japan, China, the Philippines, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Rangoon, spreading the spiritual message of Ramakrishna.
In 1922, at the age of 57, he crossed the Himalayas on foot to Tibet, where he studied Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism. At Hemis Monastery, he claimed to have discovered a manuscript on the “lost years of Jesus,” later included in his travelogue “Kashmir O Tibbate.” He subsequently traveled across Tibet, Kabul, Peshawar, Punjab, and northern India before reaching Belur Math in 1923.
Swami Abhedananda went on to establish the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in Kolkata (1923) and the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math in Darjeeling (1924). In 1927, he launched the monthly journal Vishwavani, which he edited until 1938. He also presided over the Parliament of Religions at Calcutta Town Hall in 1936, as part of the Ramakrishna Centenary Celebrations. He attained Mahasamadhi on September 8, 1939.
Swami Muktinathananda highlighted Abhedananda’s significant role in initiating Shastra Path (scriptural study) at the Math and in integrating the Ramakrishna monastic order with the Dashanami tradition. His compositions, such as the Ramakrishna Dhyana Mantra and Sri Ma Sarada Devi’s Dhyana Mantra, continue to inspire seekers on their spiritual journey.
The celebration concluded with the distribution of prasad among devotees, leaving the gathering enriched with the spiritual legacy of Swami Abhedananda.
